Office of Governor Jim Pillen · Original source
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen welcomed the state’s 5th-place ranking in the quarterly Index of State Economic Momentum, published by State Policy Reports through Federal Funds Information for States. Nebraska ranked 1st for personal income growth, 6th for its 2.9% unemployment rate, 18th for population growth and 19th for labor force growth. Pillen credited a conservative budget, tax code changes and the state’s business climate.
Office of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham · Original source
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham criticized the Trump administration’s plan to roll back the 2024 federal methane emissions rules, saying it gives industry permission to pollute. She said New Mexico’s rules, enacted from 2021, have cut methane intensity on its side of the Permian Basin to less than half of Texas’ while production more than doubled, capturing an extra $125 million in natural gas. She said the state’s rules will remain and be strengthened.
Office of Governor Greg Abbott · Original source
Texas Governor Greg Abbott appointed Zane Blackwell of Eden to the Upper Colorado River Authority Board of Directors for a term set to expire on February 1, 2029. Blackwell is a retired utility lineman and a former member of the Eden Chamber of Commerce Board, Eden Economic Development and the City of Eden Water Task Force. He previously served as president of the Eden Consolidated Independent School District Board.
Office of Governor Greg Abbott · Original source
Texas Governor Greg Abbott dedicated the Dr. Ron A. McMurry, MD MediPlex in Jasper, a rural health facility that includes dermatology, interventional pain management and pediatric services plus an Air Evac Lifeteam air rescue base. Abbott honored McMurry, a family physician and Army combat veteran who cared for Jasper for 40 years. His office noted Texas secured more than $1.4 billion in federal Rural Health Transformation Program funds in December.
Office of Governor Greg Abbott · Original source
Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the ninth Texas Energy Fund loan, for a natural gas plant of more than 450 megawatts in Reeves County being developed by Pecos Power Plant LLC with co-sponsors Mercuria and Continental Resources. The plant, enough to power about 110,000 homes, is set to begin supplying the ERCOT region in 2027. The eight projects previously approved under the In-ERCOT Generation Loan Program total 4,994 MW.
Office of Governor Henry McMaster · Original source
Packaging manufacturer CurTec USA is expanding its operations in Oconee County, South Carolina, with a $10 million investment expected to create 10 new jobs. The company, which makes plastic drums, pails and jars for the life sciences and fine chemicals industries, will expand warehouse and production lines at 365 Oconee Business Parkway in Westminster. Operations are expected to come online in summer 2027.
Office of Governor Wes Moore · Original source
Governor Wes Moore joined McLaren leadership to open the company’s new Vehicle Processing Center at Tradepoint Atlantic in the Port of Baltimore, an investment of more than $11 million that the state calls McLaren’s largest commitment in the nation. The custom-built facility will prepare and finish McLaren supercars for shipment across America and employ automotive technicians, paint, logistics and management staff. Tradepoint Atlantic is redeveloping a former steelmaking site.
Office of Governor Bob Ferguson · Original source
Governor Bob Ferguson asked FEMA for additional Public Assistance, projected at up to $13.2 million, to repair roads, bridges, utilities and other public infrastructure damaged by this summer’s record wildfires in Central and Eastern Washington. The request covers 11 counties and the Spokane Tribe of Indians and brings Washington’s total Public Assistance request for the disaster to more than $133 million. Ferguson requested a federal Major Disaster Declaration on September 28.
Office of Governor Josh Stein · Original source
Governor Josh Stein joined the City of Lumberton to dedicate its new floodgate, marking 10 years since Hurricane Matthew, which killed 25 people in North Carolina and caused catastrophic flooding. The floodgate, part of a $15 million project backed by state disaster recovery grants, the Golden LEAF Foundation, a legislative appropriation and the U.S. Economic Development Administration, will protect Lumberton residents and businesses in the city’s industrial sector.
Office of Governor Josh Stein · Original source
Governor Josh Stein and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced more than $17 million for mental health services through the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program. The funding includes $4 million for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, $4 million for youth mobile crisis teams, $3 million for opioid treatment access, $3 million for first-episode psychosis care and $2.9 million for Rural Crisis Partnerships. NCDHHS received more than $213 million in federal program funding for 2026-27.
Office of Governor Josh Stein · Original source
Governor Josh Stein and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster led a bipartisan group of 29 governors urging federal officials to expand counter-drone training for state, local, tribal and territorial law enforcement, corrections officials and National Guard personnel. Their letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and FBI Director Kash Patel seeks training so agencies can safely use new authorities under the Safer Skies Act, included in the FY 2026 NDAA.
Office of Governor Mikie Sherrill · Original source
Governor Mikie Sherrill said a review of voter-registration processes at New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle Commission found about 750 additional records affected by the IDEMIA system error from June 2023 to June 2024 and about 340 potentially improper registrations from MVC re-entry events dating back to 2016; neither issue involved noncitizens. Affected records are being deleted or referred to counties for review. The MVC is moving to a new vendor and adding daily pre-transfer audits and multilingual registration questions.
Office of Governor Josh Shapiro · Original source
Governor Josh Shapiro and DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced $81 million in Community Conservation Partnerships Program grants for 306 recreation and conservation projects in 60 counties, at the future site of Swatara Crossings Park in Middletown, Dauphin County. The round includes a $600,000 grant for the park’s second phase and $35.5 million for 154 local park and recreation projects. The administration says the program has invested about $315 million in more than 1,100 projects.
Office of Governor Gavin Newsom · Original source
Governor Gavin Newsom announced 35 films, including 28 independent productions and New Line Cinema’s Last Friday, awarded credits in the latest round of California’s expanded Film and Television Tax Credit Program. The state projects $1.08 billion in direct production spending, $423 million in qualified wages and 5,453 cast and crew jobs. Since July 2025, the program says 179 projects have generated $7.2 billion in California production spending.
Office of Governor Gavin Newsom · Original source
Governor Gavin Newsom swore in more than 10,000 members of the 2026-2027 California Service Corps, who will work on disaster preparedness, hunger, student mentoring and climate action. More than 50,000 people have served since the program began in 2019, which the state calls the nation’s largest public service program. Newsom also launched a California Service Corps Alumni Network and directed California Volunteers to prepare for the coming El Niño season.
NASA · Original source
NASA and SpaceX are targeting 6:33 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, October 13, to launch the 35th SpaceX commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station from Cape Canaveral, carrying more than 6,300 pounds of supplies including the final set of Roll-Out Solar Arrays. The Dragon spacecraft is due to dock around 11 a.m. on October 15. NASA will stream launch and docking coverage and hold an October 8 media teleconference.
Federal Trade Commission · Original source
A joint request for information from the Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture seeks public input on agricultural equipment manufacturing and distribution markets, including potential anticompetitive conduct. The agencies cite growing complaints that farmers face barriers to acquiring equipment and keeping it running, and invite comments from farmers, independent repair providers and current and former industry employees. Comments are due at Regulations.gov by December 7, 2026.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · Original source
The Department of Veterans Affairs launched a pilot with security company CLEAR that lets Veterans create VA.gov accounts in minutes using CLEAR pods at six VA medical centers: Atlanta; Brooklyn, New York; Orlando, Florida; Palo Alto, California; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Washington, D.C. VA staff help with sign-up using a government-issued photo ID. The option is free and optional, and VA says CLEAR does not receive Veterans’ health information.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security · Original source
The Department of Homeland Security said ICE arrested Chimaobim Adedayo Igbojekwe, a Nigerian national it said had overstayed his authorized period, on October 1 after he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct following a September 27 indecent exposure arrest in East Pennsboro Township, Pennsylvania. Citing local reporting, DHS said he had been working as a canvasser for Janelle Stelson, the Democratic nominee in Pennsylvania’s 10th congressional district. ICE Deputy Director Charles Wall criticized the campaign.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security · Original source
The Department of Homeland Security released a statement highlighting people it described as the worst illegal aliens arrested by ICE or convicted of crimes in San Antonio, Texas. Those named include two Venezuelan nationals sentenced to 12.5 and 20 years on child sex trafficking charges after an HSI San Antonio investigation, and three Mexican nationals convicted of drug, child indecency and other offenses. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin blamed the previous administration’s border policies.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security · Original source
The Department of Homeland Security said ICE arrested people it described as criminal illegal aliens with convictions including sexual conduct against a child, child pornography, sexual abuse of an animal and drug offenses. Those named are nationals of Honduras, Mexico, El Salvador and Guatemala, with convictions in New York, Illinois, Virginia, Texas and New Jersey. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin cited what he called a more than 1,600% increase in assaults against ICE officers.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security · Original source
The Department of Homeland Security proposed a rule that would charge a $70,000 fee per F-1 student for initial Optional Practical Training and $30,000 for any subsequent OPT, with schools required to pay before recommending students. DHS said the fees respond to fraud and abuse identified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program and are intended to protect U.S. workers. Public comments will be accepted from October 8 through November 9.
U.S. Department of the Treasury · Original source
The Treasury Department announced its first civil penalty under the Outbound Investment Security Program, a $200,000 fine imposed on Amidi, LLC in July 2026 for failing to notify Treasury of an investment by its controlled foreign entity in a Chinese embodied artificial intelligence company. Amidi’s Chinese fund subsidiary invested about $92,478 in Shanghai Qiongche Intelligent Technology Company Limited (Noematrix) on April 19, 2025. Amidi is also the parent of the organization doing business as Plug and Play Tech Center.
Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Justice · Original source
The Justice Department’s Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism announced that the first stop of its American Tour Against Hate will be in Southfield, Michigan, on Wednesday, October 14. The department describes the tour as a first-of-its-kind federal initiative bringing government resources and officials directly to communities experiencing hate and discrimination. Attorney General Todd Blanche and task force chair Leo Terrell said it reflects the administration’s commitment to confronting antisemitism.
Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Justice · Original source
The Justice Department opened the third and final phase of its remission process for Western Union fraud victims, drawing on the $586 million the company forfeited under a 2017 deferred prosecution agreement. More than $436.9 million has already been distributed to over 180,000 victims. People who lost money through Western Union transfers between January 1, 2004, and March 9, 2020, and have not previously filed can petition for compensation by December 31.
Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Justice · Original source
A federal jury in the Southern District of Florida convicted Joseph Rodriguez, 58, of Coral Springs, of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and six counts of health care fraud, the Justice Department said. Prosecutors said elderly residents at West Palm Beach-area country clubs who signed up for COVID-19 tests were subjected to unnecessary blood tests, with Medicare billed more than $15 million and paying over $500,000. Rodriguez faces up to 10 years in prison per count.
Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Justice · Original source
Plano, Texas clinics Heal 360 Urgent Care and Heal 360 Primary Care and their owner, Dr. Mohammed Amer Mohiuddin, agreed to pay $20 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations, the Justice Department said. The government alleged they billed a federal COVID-19 program for the uninsured for higher-level office visits that were not performed at drive-through testing sites in 2021 and 2022. Whistleblowers will receive $3.4 million; the claims are allegations only, with no determination of liability.
Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Justice · Original source
Juan Francisco Ramirez, 60, of Miami, former board chairman and co-owner of Puerto Rico’s Nodus International Bank, was sentenced to 62 months in prison and ordered to forfeit about $13.6 million for a wire fraud conspiracy, the Justice Department said. Prosecutors said he concealed insider transactions from the bank’s board and regulator, steering bank funds to himself and associates. His actions caused Nodus Bank losses of at least $23.6 million before its 2023 liquidation.
Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Justice · Original source
Zohar Pinhasi, 50, owner of ransomware remediation company MonsterCloud, was arraigned in the Eastern District of New York on two counts of wire fraud and one count of wire fraud conspiracy, the Justice Department said. Prosecutors allege he told clients he could decrypt ransomware without paying attackers, but instead secretly paid the cybercriminals for decryption keys while profiting from his clients. Each count carries a maximum of 20 years; an indictment is an allegation only.
Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Justice · Original source
An 18-year-old Richfield, Minnesota, man, Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, was charged with receiving a firearm and ammunition to commit a federal crime of terrorism after allegedly plotting an ISIS-inspired mass shooting at the Mall of America, the Justice Department said. According to the complaint, he identified October 24 as the date of the planned attack. The FBI arrested him on October 6 after he paid about $600 for an inert AK-47, magazines and ammunition from an undercover employee.
The White House · Original source
The White House announced that the President signed two bills into law on October 7, 2026. H.R. 5345, the Improving Social Security’s Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act, establishes a single point of contact at the Social Security Administration for people whose Social Security numbers are misused or cards lost. S. 766, the Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act of 2025, requires an annual report on federally funded projects more than five years behind schedule or $1 billion over budget.
Office of the Spokesman, U.S. Department of State · Original source
The State Department publicly designated Zhao Fugang, director of the Overseas Chinese Service Center in Fiji, for involvement in significant corruption on behalf of China-based actors, making him and his immediate family generally ineligible to enter the United States. The department said Zhao paid bribes to Fijian citizens to advance China-based government, business and criminal interests. The designation was made under Section 7031(c) of the 2026 State Department appropriations act.
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State · Original source
Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke at a State Partnership Program signing ceremony at the Conrad Hotel in Athens linking Greece with the Florida National Guard. Rubio said the arrangement reflects the close U.S.-Greece alliance and that Florida’s Guard, proficient at hurricane response, could learn from Greek expertise in responding to earthquakes and wildfires. He described such partnerships as building blocks of a modernized alliance.
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State · Original source
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Ambassador Guilfoyle dedicated the renovated chancery of the U.S. Embassy in Athens at a ribbon-cutting ceremony that included a blessing by a Greek Orthodox bishop. Rubio said embassies should be secure, functional and designed in a uniquely American way, noting the building uses the same marble as the Parthenon. He said the renovation reunites embassy staff who had worked at other locations during construction.
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State · Original source
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke briefly at Maximos Mansion in Athens before an expanded meeting during the U.S.-Greece Strategic Dialogue. Mitsotakis described a productive discussion and a relationship going from strength to strength. Rubio called the alliance unique and historic, citing opportunities beyond defense in energy, economics, rare and critical minerals and supply chains, and said the meetings would produce follow-up action items.
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State · Original source
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at Maximos Mansion in Athens, according to a State Department transcript of their remarks before the meeting. Mitsotakis praised Rubio’s speech on the historical bonds between the two countries and described Greece as a bridge between Europe, the United States, the Middle East and the Gulf, and an entry point for U.S. LNG into Europe. Rubio said the alliance now extends well beyond defense and diplomacy.
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State · Original source
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis held a joint press availability in Athens during the sixth U.S.-Greece Strategic Dialogue. Rubio announced a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a joint security program to strengthen counterterrorism information sharing between law enforcement agencies, and highlighted plans to expand U.S. LNG imports and gas and electricity interconnectors. In questions, he said Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and pointed to a federal task force led by Jay Clayton on super intelligence.
Office of the Spokesman, U.S. Department of State · Original source
The United States and Greece issued a joint statement after the sixth U.S.-Greece Strategic Dialogue in Athens, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis on October 7, 2026. They announced $4 billion in Foreign Military Sales, finalized Greece’s State Partnership Program with Florida and agreed on the provision of Stryker vehicles. The statement also covers investment screening, technology and energy cooperation, certification for U.S. seafarers on Greek vessels and an extended Cultural Property Agreement.
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State · Original source
Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a speech at the Pnyx in Athens on the debt the United States and the West owe to ancient Greece, from democratic institutions to science and philosophy. He argued that much of the West had grown ashamed of its heritage and outsourced its sovereignty, and said the Trump administration has chosen the pursuit of national power. Rubio urged Europe to rebuild its strength alongside the United States, citing Greece as an example.
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State · Original source
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis opened the sixth round of the U.S.-Greece Strategic Dialogue in Athens, on Rubio’s first visit to Greece. Gerapetritis cited three agreements signed that day and cooperation on defense, energy, shipping and digital infrastructure, including the port of Alexandroupolis. Rubio called Greece an indispensable NATO ally, noted its entry into the National Guard State Partnership Program with Florida, and highlighted the Vertical Gas Corridor and U.S. LNG exports.
